Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-27
NEW
ENTERPRISISG CAPITALISTS To DEVELOP
THE MOUNTAIN STATE.
2l-rat Construction in West Trg:aia-Ihe Pro
gosst West Virginia Kentucky ana Tennessee
24Ivay-ilarrisv Win George
Siearls Of New York.

CHARLESTON, September %, lSs7.-Mr.
George T. SJea-ns, President Of the Ameri-
can Improvement Company, which is en-
gagged in the development OF the great APP
paIachian Basin, and particularly further
iug the construction OF a line OF railway
through the States OF West Virginia, Ken
lucky and Tennessee, Is now IN this city.
From his intimate knowledge OF the re-
sources OF this territory, aud Of questions
germaiu TO It's development, a REGISTER
| reporter last eyenIng asked Mr.. Sea rs
( would he De wIlliugt 10 say something upOn
tuese matters for the benefit or The public.
RepOrter-Did you see the report pub
Ii>led some weeks since IN the REGISTER
Of the interview with eS-AttOrney General
e. c. Watts, in reference 10 State develop.
ment by the fundamentally OF county
| INSCRIPTIONS
/ Mr.. Stearns-I did. and read it with
much interest. HIS views in this regard
ne sound, and to thoughtful men, conclu-
ave. | baye long been OF his opinion,
| that the only way that West Virginia
could reap the benefits OF the s~tupeudOus
| .~esources, which beniicent Nature has
| planted upon her and III her mountains,
! vas by showing 20 the world ner faith IN
| these resources and assuring pecunlary OBJ
| ligatiOns - q basis whereupOn to induce
/ outside capital to come in and build ave-
uues OF communication To reach markets
| entirely OF her limits, IOr the natural
/ wealth in which she - almost without
/ limit, and for which markets exist all
over this broad country, north, east, -Outh
/ md west, 10 any extent they may be fur
/ risbed. Now, IN fact, thus limited. Eu-
rope ami South America would annually
paw millions of dollars could they get that
" hlch the Appalachian Basin has 70 sell,
/ and which lies practically yalusles7.
KppOrter-GOu have given, Mr.. Strarns,
Years OF study To the ct this
territory, will you give resume Ot what
hey consist
Nr. Stearns-PrOpeTly, to answer this
question, opens an IliimItsble deld that
gBuld require volumes. Let me grOVe
conclusions. The highest scientific testi-
mouy IN the world gives 1t the highest
position in the world in richness OF nat
uraI wealth. Professor William b. Rogers,
the first of American Biologists, said:
Other than thus, there Il NO snch combl-
nation in the world
Professor y. ). Shaler, the successor OF
AgaSsiZ in Harvard University, ~ the re-
sult OF many years OF practical study, Is
on record aS saying, 1t Is the richest re-
zion in the world" Professor Aus ed,
the President OF the Royal Geological So
ciety Of London. testified before a Com
mittee OF the United States Senate, to
this effect: II nave for tSenty-eight years
been a practical geOlOgist, and have visit
Cd the great coal and mineral deposits OF
the world. For quantity, quality and
facility or ~cheapness OF mining, that OF
the great Appalaiehn basin excel them
all" And | might quote authority upon
authority, pihng "OsSa upon Pellon'
with evidence to this effect.
Rsporter-Give Us something of the
results Of your Investigations, Mr.. StearnS
~ 70 these resources.
Mr.. Stearns-Well, | always quote my
own opinions in thu e relations with hest
tancy. so confident IN their ~stupendOus
magnitude and | that am telling you IN
part what 7 know, | feel it may
ard will be said: "Oh, Stearns IS an en-
I thuSlASt. MS ZSAi OuJTunS us utSCIetlOn-
Il Is credibly maintained that in this
basin lies embedded every mineral known
10 science. seldom allude to other than
coal. iron and timber. The Hon. Robert
II Walker once said 70 me when 4 Young
man. "Nir. Ssearns the PrOrlmly OF iron
and coal within her limits has made Great
Britain the foremost nation of the world"
This remark made q profound impression
upon NV life. It Is true, coal and iron are
the fundamentals OF national prosperity,
and the nearer they lie together, the less
the cost Of production. Pennsylvania has
tor a hundred years been the seat of the
great iron industry Of the continent. Yet
TO the furnaces Of Pennsylvania and the
North, il IS proven that every ton of coal
Tor fuel stands q transportation OF two
hURdred miles, and every ton of ore q
transportation of four hundred miles, and
TO make q ton Of pig iron necessitates at
least o q tons of ore and fuel upon
the ayeTage. To meet the demands
I OF northern furnaces Lake Superior, q
thousand miles away, this year is drawn
: upon for 4,O00, 600 tons of ore, and the lit
tie vein of COnnsllsgille, but twenty miles
long by three miles wide, to make coke to